Armed gardai are protecting the family of failed state witness Jonathan Dowdall – after they finally returned to their home, it has emerged.
The Irish Mirror has confirmed that detectives armed with pistols and MP7 submachine guns are on permanent watch at the family home in north Dublin.
“The family were away from the house for a good while, but are back around a week.
READ MORE: Gardai ask prosecutors to charge all three Kinahan men with directing massive crime cartel
“There is a 24 hour post outside the house now and it is armed,” a source confirmed
When the Irish Mirror called to the family home in Cabra in the north of the city nobody was at home – but two armed detectives were sitting in a car a few yards away.
Sources said the decision to protect the house with armed gardai showed that gardai feared the family was at serious risk. There was obviously a risk assessment and the decision was made to provide an armed post,” a source said.
“That is not taken lightly and there must be a significant threat to them. There were protection posts on several houses during the Kinahan Hutch feud, but none was armed. It was always uniform members.
Sources have told us that the family recently returned to their home for the first time since former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall gave evidence in the mammoth murder trial of Gerry “the Monk” Hutch.
Dowdall (44) was the key state witness against Mr Hutch (60) – and claimed the Monk told him he murdered Kinahan associate David Byrne (34) at the Regency Airport Hotel in north Dublin in February 2016. Mr Hutch denied any involvement in the murder, a killing that sparked a bloody Kinahan onslaught that left 18 men dead.
But presiding judge Ms Justice Tara Burns dismissed Dowdall’s evidence – and acquitted Mr Hutch.
Sources have told us that one of the people to return to the family home in recent days was Jonathan’s father Patrick– who walked free from prison at the end of April.
He was given a two year sentence last October after he admitted helping a gang to carry out the murder of David Byrne.
But with time served and standard 25 per cent remission, Dowdall’s sentence came to an end in April and he walked free from Limerick – where Jonathan is also banged up, serving a four year term for the same offence.
Mr Dowdall senior’s whereabouts had been a mystery ever since he walked free from prison, but now The Star/Mirror has confirmed he and other family members are back at their home on the Navan Road -under the watchful eye of armed gardai.
Meanwhile, sources have told us there are increased doubts that Jonathan Dowdall and other members of his family will be accepted into the Witness Security Programme.
The Special Criminal Court heard last year that Dowdall, a former businessman and councillor who served time for waterboarding an innocent man, was being assessed for the Witness Security Programme – but we have established he has still not been admitted to it.
The fact that the Dowdall family – who would likely have gone overseas within Jonathan Dowdall if he was to be admitted to the programme – were back at the house was being interpreted last night as a sign that he may face difficulties getting into the scheme.
Sources said the fact that Dowdall admitted being involved in serious crimes is an obstacle for any country that would consider allowing him in and start a new life.
Gardai do not comment on security issues, especially the witness security programme, which is shrouded in mystery.
